this is definitely a topic that Emergent seems very concerned about. i’m glad for that! i checked out the website you linked and have a question about the paragraph that reads:
“Pastoral ministers struggle with the evangelizing mission of the Church. Everyone wants to evangelize but few have offered either the theoretical or practical advice needed to support this essential activity of church life.”
while i think this is true to a certain extend, i wonder if what we need are more theories or programs to help evangelize the masses. maybe you have your own opinion on this issue, but isn’t the biblical model of evangelism modeled on an outpouring of Christ’s teaching and Spirit to those around us? to me, evangelism happens when we embody Christ’s command to love our neighbors. does the church need new programs to practice this command?

i checked out the website you linked and have a question about the paragraph that reads:
“Pastoral ministers struggle with the evangelizing mission of the Church. Everyone wants to evangelize but few have offered either the theoretical or practical advice needed to support this essential activity of church life.”
while i think this is true to a certain extend, i wonder if what we need are more theories or programs to help evangelize the masses. maybe you have your own opinion on this issue, but isn’t the biblical model of evangelism modeled on an outpouring of Christ’s teaching and Spirit to those around us? to me, evangelism happens when we embody Christ’s command to love our neighbors. does the church need new programs to practice this command?

Chad,
This conference is largely for Roman Catholic workers. This might explain your questions.

sounds like a nifty get together.
i like chad’s words – evangelism = love your neighbor.

“Evangelism” is a word that conotates in my past life doing
something to convert others. It was sort of like playing Trival Persuit. If you knew enough “stuff” then you could have an intelectual argument about Jesus and you had the opportunity to “win.” Now I realize that it has nothing to do with that. We are commanded to Love others and God himself will work out the mechanics. When I love and have a right heart………then God opens doors. No matter how dedicated and inspired and correct I may have been in the past……….if my heart was not right….if I do not truly love the person with the love of Jesus then it does not matter what I am doing. The key is having the right heart. Evangelism is messenger of the good and if you have to……..use words. Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is within you…….it comes out of your heart not out of your head.